What is the thickest, warmest fleece available?

Matt murmured while asleep:

not in Polartec or similar.

I am making a garment for extremely cold

you would be better off with one of the newer synthetic insulations as they are lighter and warmner than Polartec 300. That, or down is the ultimate choice for really cold conditions.

Penny S

Could you be more specific?

Matt murmured while asleep:

primaloft, thinsulate,

Priumaloft is what's going in all the better puffy coats.

What about that double sided "Windblock Fleece"? That stuff get's really hot and I use it for the headband part of hats. It can be almost too warm for entire projects, but I am only talking about the cold of the UP of Michigan. Great for Cross Country Ski Leggings too! The neat thing about it is also is one side is one color and the other side is generally a different color - AND it doesn't pill. It isn't very thick but is very dense and has some stretch to it. Joy

Joy Hardie murmured while asleep:

oh, that' might work, but you might want to combine it with true insulation... it really depends how cold you need it for. For real arctic or extreme conditions, I doubt it would be enough tho. Layered with other things, yes very warm but bulky.

For the original poster, this forum here has an excellent gear making forum for do it yourselfer, plus many of the folks are ultralighters or serious and experienced outdoors persons.

can either search the archives for insulation discussions of which thereare many, or post to the board. good luck

Penny S

*Some* stretch, but not as much as regular polartec. I found that out the hard way when I made up a close-fitting jacket in some "Hi-Vis Yellow" Wind Pro.

Kathleen

heh, try making tights out of it... oops!!

;-)

penny

Great resource---thanks, Penny.

Thanks for the info as I've been thinking of making some fleece pants for winter. I plan to get some snow shoes or cross-country skis and don't want to pay the out-of-control prices that ski shops/sporting goods stores charge.

Joy, has the windblock worked as leggings? I would think it wouldn't be stretchy enough?

You could make really cool ( as in neato) warm winter leggings out of powershield, but then you'd be spending a lot for the fabric.

penny

Coincidentally, about an hour ago I was talking to a friend visiting from Whitehorse, Yukon about winter wear. Down here in the deep south (Toronto, ON) we wear GoreTex and fleece, since winters are relatively mild and kinda wet. Up there, they wear down - the weather's cold and dry. Fleece isn't warm enough on its own.

With a windshell, Polartec 300 should be warmer than windbloc.

Mike

PS - I agree with Penny's previous comment on other insulations. I have a Primaloft "sweater" and wear it instead of fleece when it's really cold. Thinsulate is also warm, but bulky to pack - it doesn't compress much compared to the down substitutes.